Why Am I Cold All the Time? Common Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiencies

Although it’s the time of year when people outside begin to layer up, feeling cold all the time could be a sign of something else, specifically, nutrient deficiencies in the body.

 

A lack of the essential vitamins and minerals the body needs can lead to a host of issues that could permanently affect your health.

 

Discovering the symptoms to watch out for and knowing the vitamins you may be lacking are crucial for your continued well-being.

 

Understanding Nutrient Deficiencies

When we lack essential vitamins and minerals, our bodies may not function as they should. Vitamin B12, iron, and iodine are common vitamins and minerals often lacking.

 

By prioritizing proper nutrition and consuming a balanced diet, we can help prevent these deficiencies.

 

Whether you’re vegan, pregnant, or following a plant-based diet, it’s important to ensure adequate intake of nutrients like iron, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin A. These micronutrients are vital for bone health, red blood cell production, and immune function.

 

You can proactively safeguard your health by being aware of your nutrient intake and potential deficiencies.

 

Common Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiencies

Generally speaking, the following signs are all indications of a diet that is lacking the required vitamins and minerals:

 

  • Mouth ulcers
  • Cracks in the corners of your mouth
  • Hair loss
  • Excess dandruff
  • Scaly patches on your skin
  • Red or white bumps on your body
  • Diminished vision at night

 

The symptoms listed above are just some of the ways our bodies let us know something isn’t right. Nutrient deficiencies can impact the immune system, leading to frequent infections and delayed wound healing. It’s wise to pay attention whenever something seems out of the ordinary. 

 

Feeling Cold All the Time

Feeling constantly cold may indicate nutrient deficiencies that affect temperature regulation and blood circulation. Inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals and thyroid hormone imbalances can contribute to cold intolerance.

 

A change in diet and dietary supplements can help prevent and combat nutritional deficiencies. However, it’s always good to consult a healthcare professional to identify what’s happening with your body and receive guidance on addressing any abnormalities.

 

Fatigue and Lack of Energy

Specific vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, B12, iron, and magnesium, are essential for energy production. They allow the body to convert food into usable energy.

 

There may be a good reason for the constant energy drain and sluggishness you’ve been experiencing.

 

Brittle Nails and Hair

Physical appearances are often a good indication of someone’s health.

 

Some people blame feeling cold all the time on the change in weather; people with dry, frizzy hair and brittle nails use the same excuse. However, this uncomfortable state is usually due to a lack of B7 being absorbed into your body and circulating through the bloodstream.

 

Role of Key Vitamins and Minerals in Body Temperature Regulation

 

Vitamin B12 and Iron: Crucial for Red Blood Cell Production

Vitamin B12 and iron are essential for healthy red blood cell production. Deficiencies in these nutrients can cause anemia, leading to decreased red blood cell count and feeling cold. To maintain optimal blood cell function, a diet rich in B12 is recommended and may include shellfish, clams, oysters, liver, meat, eggs, and milk products.

 

Iron, which is essential for producing the hemoglobin that transfers oxygen from your lungs to other body tissues, is found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, peas, spinach, whole grains, and nuts.

 

Again, a good multivitamin, like the Vitamin100 Multivitamin by Vitamin Armor, can help supplement people’s nutritional needs. Not everyone is going to eat everything they need all the time. 

 

Addressing nutrient deficiencies improves red blood cell production and regulates body temperature effectively.

 

Iodine and Thyroid Function: Regulating Metabolism and Body Temperature

 

Iodine is essential for thyroid function and body temperature regulation. Iodine deficiencies can disrupt thyroid function and affect temperature regulation.

 

If you suspect an iodine deficiency, consult a healthcare professional for assessment and guidance on addressing deficiencies.

 

Can Vitamin100 by Vitamin Armor Help?

If you’re suddenly feeling cold all the time, sluggish, or you’ve noticed you’re not looking like your usual self, it could be a sign of a nutrient deficiency.

 

Although age and lifestyle will always be a factor, readjusting your diet or adding a vitamin supplement may be exactly what you need. It’s all about having the correct dosage for your body.

 

Vitamin Armor 100 is a high-quality supplement formulated to counteract the effects of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. If you have any questions about this product, don’t hesitate to reach out.

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Recovery from a vitamin B12 deficiency varies. It depends on the causes, symptoms and treatment plans.

Mild and borderline cases can take a few days to weeks after starting B12 supplementation or treatment.

However, complete recovery in some cases of vitamin B12 deficiency with neurological symptoms may take months.

To understand how long it takes to recover from Vitamin B12 deficiency, you must first learn what it is and what factors influence it.

Understanding Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that aids in:

  1. Protecting the nerves from damage.
  2. Absorption and breaking down of carbohydrates, fats and proteins to use them as energy.
  3. Creating new cells (DNA synthesis).
  4. Generation of red blood cells, which deliver oxygen to organs.

Our bodies cannot produce vitamin B12 on their own, so you need to consume foods rich in vitamin B12 such as:

  • Organ meats like lamb liver and kidneys
  • Red meat
  • Poultry
  • Eggs
  • Milk ( Whole, soy, almond or rice), cheese and Yogurt
  • Sardines
  • Clams

Failure to take vitamin B12-rich foods results in three types of deficiency.

The table below shows these three types of B12 insufficiency and what this could mean for you.

B12 Level (pg/mL) Interpretation Explanation
Above 300 Normal B12 levels are within the healthy range
200 – 300 Borderline B12 levels are slightly below normal. Can signal early stages of deficiency or variations in absorption but you need further investigation by a doctor
Below 200 Deficient B12 levels are significantly below the recommended range, indicating a clear deficiency. At this level, you need immediate medical attention

When vitamin B12 is too low (below 200), it can cause several  health complications such as: 

  1. Headaches
  2. Anemia 
  3. Fatigue
  4. Depression
  5. Difficulty concentrating and cognitive impairments
  6. Gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, nausea, constipation, bloating and gas

 

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Factors Affecting Vitamin B12 Deficiency Recovery

Various factors affect how you recover from vitamin B12 deficiency. 

These include:

A. Age and Lifestyle

Our bodies have the capabilities to absorb the essential minerals and nutrients, from what we consume.

Therefore, the food we eat determines whether we contribute to excess, normal, or inadequate production of these nutrients.

And vitamin B12—a vital nutrient—is affected by our eating patterns.

However, as we age our ability to absorb vitamin B12 diminishes, leading to a deficiency.

Besides our age, our lifestyle and dietary preferences play a role in determining our vitamin B12 intake.

And since most vitamin B12 from food comes from animal sources, the likelihood of deficiency increases if you adhere to a strict vegetarian or vegan diet. 

You can still follow your preferred eating plan as long as you include more plant-based foods high in vitamin B12 in your diet. These include:

  • Almond milk
  • Soy milk
  • Rice milk
  • Oats
  • Bran
  • Corn

If you don’t follow a strict diet plan, it’s still important to include foods high in vitamin B12 in your daily meals.

B. Underlying Conditions

If you have any underlying medical concerns your recovery time for vitamin B12 insufficiency may be impacted.

For example, digestive illnesses such as Crohn’s disease and Celiac disease might impair vitamin B12 absorption. This is because an inflamed or damaged stomach lining prevents vitamin B12 absorption.

Some acid reflux and heartburn medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may affect the absorption of vitamin B12. PPIs have the potential to harm the stomach cells that generate intrinsic factor—a protein necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12—leading to a deficiency.

As a result, using vitamin B12 injections for life may be necessary in some cases.

Adherence to Treatment

Once a healthcare professional determines your level of vitamin B12 deficiency, they recommend the appropriate treatment plan for your specific situation.

These might include:

  • Taking supplements
  • Eating more foods that are high in vitamin B12
  • Receiving larger doses of B12 through injections

However, deviating from the suggested treatment course may make recovery time longer.

This is due to the fact that your body is still not getting the 2.4 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B12 that is needed daily for adults over the age of 14.

Purchase High-Quality Vitamin B12 from Vitamin Armor

To ensure that your body is absorbing the correct amount of vitamin B12, you should consult your doctor so that they can prescribe the right dose depending on the category you fall into.

  • Then, you should purchase only high-quality vitamin B12 supplements. Vitamin Armor ensures that you get the best ingredients and just what the doctor ordered.

This enhances your recovery rate since consuming high-quality, carefully formulated vitamin B12 supplements ensures that you receive the maximum benefits of this essential nutrient.

Get 100% of your daily essential vitamins and minerals and take a step closer to a healthier you with Vitamin Armor’s vitamins and supplements.